Coin-controlled mechanism.



Patented" Mar. 24, 19m

2 BEEETB-SHBET 1 G. F. W. SGHULTZB.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1912.

IN VENTOR ATTORNEY G. P. w. SOHULTZE.

COIN GONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT, 6, 1912. a Patented M31224, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' ATTORNEY INVENTOR turned the ment therefor,

i value which is controlled-by SoHUL'rzE, a citizen for the deposit of the GUSTAV F. w. 'scHULrzE, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

' COIN-CONTROLLEDMECHANISM.

' Application filed September 6, 1912. Serial No. 718,970.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAv F. residing at Oakland, in meda and State of California, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism, of WlllCh the following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to means for regulating-the return of a deposited coin or-token' to the depositor thereof within acoin actuated device, or the retention thereof Within the machine as a compensation for the value given therefor,

the construction and operation of the work-I ing parts beingsuch that the user of the machine is given an opportunity to have reing on the opening into which the coin for throwing into operation the actuating mechanisms is deposited; the object ofthe invention being to create an interest and attract attention to the coin controlled machine and by so doing causing-a greater number of persons to use the machine than otherwise would be the case.

The invention is adapted. for use in connection with any form of a coin controlled In the present case the user of the machine is given a choice of a plurality of deposit openings in which to place the actuatingcoin or token. Shouldthe selection-of an opening coin or token be the one controlling the return thereof, thedep'osited coin or token is directed of the machine for the recovery thereof and insuch an event the useris dispensed that the apparatus and in addition has returned the coin or tokendeposited for actuating the machine. In the case of a weighing scale, the weight returned and in th of the United States, the county of Alaas to the opening deposited coin or token, depend! choice or selection as to the com to the exterior.

Specification of Letters Patent. JPat t d 131 24L 1914p of the user is given and 'the deposited coin e caseof a vending machlne the merchandise controlled thereby is dlscharged and the coin or token returned. In-e1ther event, the return of the coin or token -to the user of the machine, or the retention thereof. within the machine is dependent solelyon the selection by the user for the deposit of the com, the return of the coin, or the retention thereof within the machine being solely governed by the position of the actuating mechanisrmof the machine when the coin or token isdeposited by the user thereof.

Heretofore, the return of the deposited coin or token from Within a coin controlled Weighing machine has been dependent upon the registry of a guess by the user as to the welght, the return of the coinbeing depend ent on the coincident of the registered guess With the weight disclosed by the scale mechanism,-but such a constructed machine is exceedingly complex in its construction, requiges extreme nicety as to regulation, and requires that the-user thereof make a registry as to his weight. Such mechanism is entirely dispensed with under the present invention, and the same is applicable to all forms of coin controlled and coin actuated machines, and by the expression coin controlled machine, as hereinafter employed, is meant-to be understood any form of a coin controlled apparatus. I 1

With the above mentioned'and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed opt in the claims hereto appended; it being under'-.

stood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention. To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed one form of my invention, and in which the same is illustrated as applied to a weighing apparatus.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spring scale, the upper portion of which isin vertical section, disclosing the scale mechanism and the mechanism controlled by theoperation of the scale for directing the disposal of a deposited coin for releasing the lock 0 mechanism of the weighing machine or scale. Fig. 2 is asectional view on line 2,2', Fig. 1 of the drawings, and viewed in the direction of the arrow, disclosing the coin chutessectional view of the upper portion of the scale casin with the weighing mechanism removed, dlsclosing the coin receiving slots and contact mechanism operated upon the depositing of a coin for directing the disposal of the coin. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the scale casing viewed from the rear disclosing the weighing mechanism and-the coin operated controlling means for the same. Fig. 5 is a view ofthe controlling circuit for the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral -1 designates a suitable scale base on the forward portion of which is mounted the scale platform 2, and from the rear of the base extends the vertical casing 3, in which is mounted the operating mechanism of the scale.

The weight indicating mechanism of the scale is constructed in the following manner: Extending vertically within the casing 3 is a scale rod 4, connected at its lower end to the platform mechanism and carrying at its upper end a transverse bar 5, connected at each end to suitable coiled springs 6, sus-' pended at their opposite ends from a suitable bar 7, supported by the interior side walls of the casing 3. Slidably mounted in suitable guides 8 formed in a plate 9, attached to the interior of the front wall of the casing 3 in rear of a dial opening 10, adapted to be inclosed by a glass 11, is a bar 12, the lower end of which rests on the transverse bar 5 and the upper end of which is provided on one face with teeth 13, which vintermesh with a pinion 14 loosely mounted on a horizontal'shaft 15, one end of which is journaled in the upper portion of the plate 9,and the other end is journaled in and extends through a dial plate 16 positioned in rear of the dial opening 10, and secured to the outer'end'of said shaft 15 between the glass 11 and the dial plate 16 is an indicating hand 17, adapted to rotate about the face of the plate 16 and indicate the weight of the user of the scale. The pinion 14 1s rovided on one surface with an arm 18 adapted to contact with a corresponding pin 18. projecting from one surface of a disk 19, secured to the shaft 15, and mounted on the shaft adjacent the disk 19 is a grooved pulley 19 to which is fastened one end of a flexible cord 20, the opposite end of which supports a suitable weight 21. Secured at its lower end to the scale rod 4, below the transverse bar 5 is a suitable rod 22 which is of sufficient length that the upper end thereof is adapted to engage a plate 23, pivoted at one end to a bracket 24 and provided at its opposite end with a suitunseated from suitable teeth formed'in the peripheral edge of the'disk 19. The end of the rod 22 when in engagement with the plate 23 lifts the tongue 25 thereof, from the teeth in the edge of the disk 19, but should a person step on the scale platform, the rod 22 will be pulled downwardly with the bar 4 and the tongue 25 will fall into engageend of the bar 12 from following the scale rod downwardly, until such time as a coin is inserted in the machine. a

The coin operated releasing mechanism is preferably, constructed in the following manner: Formed in the front wall of the casin 3 and arranged one at either side of the dial opening 10 are downwardly and inwardly inclined coin receiving slots 26, at the inner ends of which are positioned coin at 28, and said cups are secured to the ends vided with fingers 31 adapted to extend under the plate 23. The rods are also provided with weighted arms 32 which extend over the plate 23 and the weightsof said arms are sufficienttomaintain the cups 27 carried at the opposite ends of the rods, in position to receive a coin from the slots 26.

From the above construction, it, will be observed thatwhen a person steps on the .drawn'downwardly against the tension of a coin in either slot, the same will'be receivedwithin one of the cups and the weight of the coin will over-balance the weighted arms 32, and; the fingers 31 in their upward movement will lift the plate 23 upwardly and remove the tongue 25 thereof from the notches in the disk 19, and the weight of the bar 12, which is greater than the weight 21, will drop until it rests l2'will rotate the pinion 14, which through the arm 18 and pin 18, which is'carried by the disk 19 secured to the shaft 15, will rotate the hand 17 about the dial 16, and the cated thereby, and after the coin drops from the open side 28 of the cup in which it is the cup to. its normal position, the finger 31 will disengage from the plate 23, and the the disk 19 and lock the shaft 15 to which able pointed tongue 25 which is normallyreceiving cups 27, open at their outer side as of suitable rods 29 and 29 pivoted at 30 adjacent the plate 23, and said-rods are prothe springs 6, and by the operator inserting on the scale bar 4, the dropping of the bar tongue 25 thereof will drop into-the teeth in ment with the ratchets'and prevent the lower a scale platform, that the scale bar4 will be weight of the user of the scale will be-indideposited, the weighted arm 32 will restore 1,oco,oaa all said disk is secured against rotation. Upon leads hereinafter more fully described. A the operator stepping ofl ofthe platform 2, star wheel 53 is keyed to rotate with the the springs '6 will draw the scale rod 4 upshaft 47, and coiiperatin'g with said star wardly, elevating the bar 12 and rotating wheel is aQ'spring arm 54, and the points on the pinion 14, and in this movement the arm said wheel are so arranged that the springs 18 will disengage from the pin 18 and the arm 54 will engage the same when rotated pinion -will be returned to its normal posito position one of aid contact plates in ention. 'As the scale bar 4 reaches its highest gagement with one of the contact fingers 51 position the rod 22 carried by-the scale bar or 52.- The lower end of the rod 44 rests 4 will engage the plate 23, elevate the tongue on the free end of a lever 53, pivoted, as at 75 25 carried thereby from agement with 54,to a bracket, and said lever rests on a the teeth on the disk 19, an t fie action of the pin 55 projecting from the shaft 4, and flexible connection 20 and weight 21 willrowhen the scale platform is unoccupied, the tate the shaft and the indicating hand 17 shaft 4 forces the lever 53 upwardly, which 15 will be restored to its normal position. retains therod 44 in the position disclosed 3 Associated with and positioned below in Fig. 1. When the scale platform is 0ceach of the coin cups 27 to receive the decupied, it will be observed that the lever 53 posited coin, when the same rolls from the will move downwardly with the rod 4 and open side 28 of the cup,,-are guideways 33, that the rod 44 will drop by gravity, the. each divided at their lower ends by a wall pawl ca rried thereby rotating the disk 34 into two channels 35 and 36, the'chafnnels 49 to present a new contact plate to the 35 leading to the interior of the casing 3, finger 51 or 52. The trip fingers 40 after and the channels 36 provided at their lower being tripped are restored to their normal ends with a chute 37 which extends through position by suitable arms 56. secured to the 25 the side wall of the housing and leads to the rod 4 and which operate against projections exterior thereof. Within each eoinchannel 57 and 58 secured to the shafts 39 at the opor chute is located a directing plate 38, each posite ends thereof from the trip fingers 40. being mounted on a shaft 39 journaled in The circuit for controlling the disposal the side walls of the said channels immediof the coin is as follows: Contact plates 59 30 ate 1y above the Walls 34 and the said shafts are adapted to be engaged by each of the 39 are each provided at one of their ends rods 29 when the same are in their downwith weighted trip fingers 40, which are wardly inclined position, said plates are each adapted to be normally supported in a connected by a lead 60, and from one of said horizontal position by armatures 40 and 41, plates extends a lead 61 which is connected as associated with electro-magnets 42 and 43, to a battery 62. A lead 63 extends from which are operated in a hereinafter dethe battery 62, and is connected to the elecscribed manner. The directing plates '38 tro-magnets 42 and 43, and said magnets are when in their normal positions and'when connected by the respective leads 64 and 65 the trip fingers 40 are in'their nor a1 posito the contact fingers 51 and 52. The shaft '40 tions are adapted to close the chan els 36 47 is connected'to the arms 29 by suitable and direct the coininto the interior of the leads 65 and 66.

casing 3, and when the fingers are tripped Theoperation of the circuit is as follows: the weight of the trip fingers will cause the Assuming that the disk carrying the c0ndirecting plates to pivot, shutting off the tact points 50 is in the'position as in Fig. 5. 45 channels 35 and opening. the channels 36 and a coin is inserted in the cup 27.ca1'ried which will direct the .coin out through the by the rod 29, the rod in its downward chute 37. movement will make contact with the plate The mechanism for controlling the dis-' 59, and a circuit will be formed through posalof the coin after being inserted in the the leads 60 and 61, battery 62, lead 63, elecs 50 receiving slots is constructed in the followtro-magnet 43, lead 65, finger'52, plate 50 ing, manner! ounted to reciprocate in and lead 66; and as the above circuit is guides in the rear of the, casing 3 is a vertimade the armature 41 will be. drawn from cally extending rod 44, provided on one face under the 'trip finger 40 and the directing with anvinwardly spring pressedvpawl 45, plate associated therewith will be thrown 55 which is adapted to engage a suitable to close the channel 35 leading into the casratchet disk 46 secured to a shaft 47 which ing and the coin thus deposited will be diis rotatably mounted in a plate 48. The rected through the channel 36 into the chute shaft 47 is provided exteriorly of the plate 37. Should a coin be inserted in the cup 27 48 with a suitable disk 49, of non-conductcarried by the arm 29 when the parts are ing material, and carried by said plate are positioned a in Fig. 5, the circuit will not 1225 contact plates 50 from which extend to the be completed, as the finger 51 is not resting shaft 47 suitable leads, and said plates are on a contact plate 50 and the com will be adapted to contact with fingers 51 and 52 directed into the interior of the casing 3. positioned at diametrically opposite sides of The return of the coin deposited to the user 6 the disk and from which extend suitable of the scale or the retention thereof within the scale is dependent solely as to which of the coin slots the user selects for the deposit of the coin.

Having thus fully described my invention what is claimed as new and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a coin actuated machine, the combination with a casing provided with a plurality of coin receiving openings and coin discharge means, weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, and means thrown into action upon the deposit of a coin within one of said receiving openings for releasing the weight-indicating mechanism and for controlling the discharge of the actuating coin from within the casing or the retention thereof within the casing in accordance with the receiving opening within which the same is deposited.

2. In a coin actuated weighing machine, the combination with a casing provided with a plurality of coin receiving openings and coin discharge outlets, coin runways extended from said receiving openings and adapted to communicate with said .discharge outlets, weight-indicating mechanism situated within the casing, means interposed between the coin runways and the coin discharge outlets for controlling the communication-therewith, and means thrown into action by the weight of a deposited coin within one of said receiving openings for releasing the weight-indicating mechanism and for actu ating the means interposed between the coin runways and the coin discharge outlets for controlling the discharge of the actuating coin from within the casing or the retention thereof within the casing, in accordance with the receiving opening within which the same is deposited.

3. In a coin actuated machine, thecombination with. a casing provided with,a plu rality of ,coin receiving openings and coin discharge outlets, a coin actuated weightmdicatmg mechanism situated-within the casing, and means thrown into operation on s the deposit of a coin for releasing-the weight indicating mechanism for controlling the discharge of the actuating coin from within the casing through the discharge outlets or the retention thereof within the casing in accordance with the receiving opening within which the same is de )osited.

- 4. In a coin actuated mac inc; the combination with a casing provided with a plurality of coin receiving openings and coin discharge devices, a coin runway extended from each 'of said receiv'n openings and adapted to communicate viitfi said discharge devices,n1eans interposed between each coin runway and the discharge devices forcontrolling the communication therewith, coin controlled weight-indicating mechanism situated within the casing, and means thrown into action upon the deposit of a coin within either of said receiving openings for releasing. the said weight-indicating mechanism and for actuating the means interposed between each coin runway and the corresponding discharge device dependent upon .the receiving opening within which the actuating coin is deposited, for controlling the discharge of the actuating coin or token from within the casing through the discharge device or the retention thereof within the casing. n

5. In a coin actuating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a plurality of coin receiving openings, and a.

plurality of coin discharge outlets, and coin runway extended from each of said receiving openings and. adapted to communicate with the discharge outlets, weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing; devices for releasing the weight indicating mechanism upon the insertion of a coin in either of said receiving openings, devices within the runways for controlling the discharge of the actuating "coin or token from within the casing, or the retention thereof within the same, and electrically operated means for actuatingsaid devices to govern the travel of the said coin.

6. In a coin actuated machine, the combination with a casing provided with a plurality of CQlIl receiving openings and coin discharge outlets, coin runways extended from said receiving openings and adapted to communicate with said discharge outlets, a weight indicating mechanism situated within said ca singand released upon the insertion of a coin in either of said receiving outlets, and mechanism interposed between said coin runways and the discharge outlets for controlling the communication therebetween, said mechanism being capable at all times of establishing a communication with said discharge outlets upon the insertion of an actuating coin in certain of said receiving openings.

p In testimony whereof I have signedfimy name to this specification in the presence of two' subscribing witnesses.

i GUSTAV F. W. SCHU LTZE.- Witnesses:

HARRY A. YTOTTEN, D. B. Rrcnanns. 

